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EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
SURAT, September 3: Officials of the city police, civic body, collectorate and the members of the Surat Ganeshotsav Samiti held an important meeting here on Wednesday and chalked out a programme for peaceful and systematic immersion of Ganesh idols on Saturday.
Chaired by Mayor Savita Sharda and attended by City Police Commissioner Maniram, District Collector R M Shah, besides eminent citizens, the 70-odd members during the meeting finalised a number of guidelines to ensure that while no untoward incident occurred during the day, the immersions could be carried out swiftly to avoid traffic congestion.
Although a number of guidelines were spelt out by Maniram on Wednesday, there were bound to be delays in the immersion schedules due to the large numbers of idols installed this year. While many have obtained permits from the Surat Ganeshotsav Samiti, there were many who have not done so and hence the exact number of idols could not be ascertained.
According to the directives issued by Maniram, all mandals have been asked to begin the procession before 8 am on Saturday. Further, the commissioner added that, all mandals should move quickly and not remain stagnant on the roads.
The use of mashaals or other burning objects should be avoided, he added. He also banned the throwing of gulal and chocolates on people, a trend that is being followed recently. Maniram stated that all people should ensure that communal harmony is maintained at all cost.
Maniram also urged the people to immerse the idols as early as possible as the Tapi entered the high tide later in the afternoon. The entire police force of the city will be placed on the routes to channelise the processions, Maniram added.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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